Huron, Lambton and Chatham-Kent were among the Ontario municipalities experiencing the most significant losses of older youth populations between 2009 and 2014.
That's according to a Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheet from the Rural Ontario Institute.
Institute spokesman Norm Ragetlie says youth migration is a key demographic concern for many towns.
He suggests community leaders should be interested in exploring whether there are local explanations for the differences between areas which gain in population and those who lose.
The fact sheet says Huron, Chatham-Kent and Lambton posted losses in all four youth demographics - 15-19, 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34.
Grey posted losses in all 4, but smaller losses in the 25-29 and 30-34 groups.
Perth posted losses in all 4, with smaller losses in the 30-34 age group.
Bruce County reported losses in the two younger categories and gains in the two older ones.
And Wellington County reported population gains in all four of those youth age groups.
